Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Malawi National and District-Level Factsheets September 2019
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Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Malawi National and District-Level Factsheets September 2019 Republic of Malawi This document was produced under Health Policy Plus with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development under cooperative agreement No. AID-OAA-A-15-00051. Photos © Richard-Nyoni Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Malawi National and District-Level Factsheets Introduction ........................................................................................................................4 National Factsheet on Adolescent Girls and Young Women........................................ 5 Northern District Factsheets on Adolescent Girls and Young Women ................. 7 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Chitipa District ................................................. 8 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Karonga District .............................................10 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Likoma District ...............................................12 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Mzimba District ..............................................14 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Nkhatabay District .........................................16 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Rumphi District ...............................................18 Central District Factsheets on Adolescent Girls and Young Women ................. 20 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Dedza District .................................................21 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Dowa District .................................................23 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Kasungu District............................................25 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Lilongwe District ...........................................27 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Mchinji District...............................................29 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Nkhotakota District .......................................31 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Ntcheu District ..............................................33 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Ntchisi District ...............................................35 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Salima District ...............................................37 Southern District Factsheets on Adolescent Girls and Young Women ...............39 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Balaka District ...............................................40 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Blantyre District ............................................42 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Chikwawa District .........................................44 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Chiradzulu District ........................................46 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Machinga District ..........................................48 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Mangochi District .........................................50 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Mulanje District .............................................52 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Mwanza District ............................................54 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Neno District ..................................................56 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Nsanje District ...............................................58 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Phalombe District .........................................60 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Thyolo District ...............................................62 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Zomba District ...............................................64 3 Introduction Compared to any other time in its history, Malawi has the largest-ever population of adolescent girls and young women. While this population represents great potential for Malawi’s future, their rights, aspirations, and agency are compromised by pervasive harmful traditional practices, norms, and gender inequities. Adolescent girls and young women routinely face the threat of physical violence, early marriage and unwanted pregnancy, interrupted schooling, limited access to healthcare services, and unpaid, potentially unsafe, employment opportunities. In response, the Government of Malawi developed the country’s first National Strategy for Adolescent Girls and Young Women (2018–2022), which presents investments and strategies for addressing the unique barriers and vulnerabilities faced by these girls and women. To support prioritization of and investment in issues related to adolescent girls and young women, in alignment with Malawi’s national strategy, these factsheets summarize recent data on the realities faced by this population at the national level and in each of Malawi’s districts. Data for these factsheets has been predominately sourced from the following: Malawi’s 2008 and 2018 population and housing censuses, 2015-2016 Demographic and Health Survey, 2014 Millennium Development Goals Endline Survey (Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey), 2016-2017 Integrated Household Survey, and 2017 Education Statistics. 4 National Factsheet on Adolescent FACTSHEET Girls and Young Women September 2019 Malawi’s largest-ever population of adolescent girls (ages 10–19) and young women (ages 20–24) represents great Malawi Population Profilei potential. However, these adolescent girls and young women are negatively affected by gender inequity, sociocultural • Total population of 17.5 norms, and harmful traditional practices, all of which impede million in 2018, a 35% their ability to thrive, realise their aspirations, and contribute increase from 2008 to the future development of the country. To set the stage for • More than 1 in 3 positive long-term development, adequate support structures inhabitants are youth and protections are needed for these young women, ages 10–24 particularly those who are most vulnerable—mothers, orphans, • More than half of ii and those living with HIV and/or disabilities. With support and youth—3.2 million—are protections in place at home, school, and the work place, as adolescent girls and well as within communities and health facilities, adolescent young women girls and young women can realise their potential now and in the future. The Government of Malawi’s first National Strategy for Adolescent Girls and Young Women (2018–2022) presents multi-sectoral, collaborative investments and strategies for addressing the unique barriers and vulnerabilities faced by these women. Decision-makers should look to the key actions outlined in the national strategy to address the following disparities faced by Malawi’s young female population. Realities Faced by Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Malawi At Home and Within Communities Adolescent girls and young women marry at early ages and are susceptible to physical violence and harmful practices. These realities increase their risk for unintended, mistimed, and higher-risk pregnancies, compromise their access to all functions of society, and violate their basic human rights. • Nearly 2 in 3 married girls and young women 15–24 were in-union before the legal age of 18.iii • 2 in 3 youth agree that sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls is an issue in their communities across the country.iv • 1 in 3 women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.v In School Very few adolescent girls progress to secondary school, challenging future employment opportunities and empowerment. Access challenges are among the dominant reasons why girls drop out of secondary school. • 25% of young women (15–24) are iliterate.vi • The majority of girls (90%) are enrolled in primary school. However, only 15% are enrolled in secondary education.vii • Reasons girls drop out of secondary school include poor access (long distance to school) (21%), the burden of family responsibility (17%), the unaffordability of school fees (10%), and pregnancy (7%).viii 5 In Health A significant share of pregnancies among girls and young women are mistimed, which may be driven and further aggravated by the high unmet need for family planning. There are missed opportunities for decreasing contraceptive discontinuation, as well as increasing uptake among new users, across Malawi. • Nearly 1 in 3 adolescent girls 15–19 have begun childbearing.v Of those, 46% gave birth before their 18th birthday.iii • More than 1 in 3 pregnancies among women and girls aged 15–24 were mistimed—they were wanted later.iii • Just 1 in 3 women age 15–24 are using contraception. An additional 13% of these women and girls want to space or delay pregnancy but are not using contraception.iii • Injectables are the most commonly used method of contraception among adolescent girls and young women (62%). However, they are also the most commonly discontinued method (63%), mostly because of concerns about side effects(24%) .iii • Less than half of women age 15–24 understand how to correctly prevent sexual transmission of HIV.vi • Less than 2 out of 3 women age 15–24 who recently visited a health facility were informed about family planning.iii Within Employment Of the adolescent girls and young women who work outside the home, the majority do so in agriculture, and without cash payment. Few young women have opportunities to obtain credit in order to grow other forms of business and improve livelihoods. Agricultural work can be hazardous, compromising the health, safety, and education of these girls and women. • Half of girls and young women age 15–24 are working outside the home